The Principal was delighted to award four bursaries on behalf of the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation to recent leavers, supporting them in their transition to university.
Recipients this year are (L-R) Dylan Morrow (studying Illustration at Ulster), Oliver Hodkinson (Computer Science at Christ Church, Oxford), Lewis Dunn (Animation at Ulster), along with Raphael Smith, who has already travelled to Keble College, Oxford, where he will read Engineering.
RBAI is one of 12 post primary schools serving young people from the North Belfast area to be supported by the Foundation. Born in 1770, Mary Ann McCracken championed Belfast’s poor and fought for the rights of many, including women and children, throughout a long life that encompassed the most turbulent years of Irish history.
A visitor to the Belfast Poor House (now known as Clifton House) from age six, Mary Ann served on its Ladies Committee from 1827-51. During that time, she adopted a holistic ‘public health’ approach to poverty, where children in particular were given nutrition, a broad education, fair apprenticeships and a proper childhood with leisure and time to develop their interests and character. More information about the Mary Ann McCracken: https://maryannmccrackenfoundation.org
Support from the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation complements RBAI’s Bursary Programme, which provides fee relief for approximately 10% of our pupils. Dating back to the founding of the School, the Bursary Fund ensures that no eligible pupil is denied the opportunity of an education at RBAI because of economic circumstances. More information about the bursary programme can be found here: https://rbaifoundation.org/social-mobility/